Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 43 The Fox Girl Gives a Pill

As the fortress at the foot of Black Mountain was burned to ashes, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Zhou Ning stood on the hillside, gazing at the ruins, and exhaled a long breath.

His internal energy was almost completely depleted, and the backlash from the lightning magic left him feeling weak all over, with his arms still trembling slightly.

But he felt an indescribable sense of relief.

The imprisoned fox-woman was finally rescued.

"Young Master Zhou."

Xiaoyu's voice came from behind me.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw her helping Xin Shiyi Niang walk over.

Xin Shiyi Niang was pale and unsteady on her feet, clearly having suffered a lot during her imprisonment.

"Miss Xin, how are you feeling?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xin Shiyi Niang forced a smile:

"Thank goodness. Thank you for saving my life, young master."

Zhou Ning shook her head: "No need to be so polite. It's good that you sisters are reunited."

He looked at Xiaoyu: "Is everyone else safe?"

Xiaoyu nodded: "They're all safe now. We've already notified the nearby fox clans, and someone will come to meet them."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "This place is not safe to stay for long. The people from Black Mountain may come to retaliate at any time. You'd better leave as soon as possible."

Xin Shiyi Niang said, "Young Master Zhou, we want to go back to Lanruo Temple with you. Sister Shisi Niang is there, and we want to see her."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay. Then come with me."

He led Xin Shiyi Niang, Xiao Yu, and several other seriously injured fox clan women on their journey back to Lanruo Temple.

Along the way, Zhou Ning inquired about the situation in Black Mountain from Xin Shiyi Niang.

Xin Shiyi Niang told him that the fortress at the foot of Black Mountain was just one of the many strongholds of the Black Mountain Demon.

The Black Mountain Demon's influence extends throughout the northern lands, with dozens of demon generals and thousands of demon soldiers under his command.

They hunted fox spirits, monsters, and even ordinary people, using their blood essence and inner cores to refine elixirs to enhance their cultivation.

"What exactly does the Black Mountain Demon want to do?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xin Shiyi Niang shook her head: "I don't know. But he's been making more and more frequent moves lately. Some people say he's preparing for a major battle, and the opponent might be... the Heavenly Court."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

Heaven?

Isn't that the legendary abode of immortals?

Could it be that the Black Mountain Demon's ambitions have grown so great that he intends to challenge the Heavenly Court?

He shook his head, suppressing those thoughts.

With his current level of cultivation, he is far from being able to access that level.

The most important thing right now is to improve our strength as quickly as possible.

Five days later, they returned to Lanruo Temple.

Xin Shisi Niang was meditating in a stone chamber on the back mountain when she heard footsteps and opened her eyes.

When she saw Xin Shiyi Niang walk in, she was stunned at first, and then tears welled up in her eyes.

"elder sister!"

The two sisters hugged each other and cried bitterly, and it took them a long time to separate.

"Fourteenth Sister, you've lost weight."

Xin Shiyi Niang stroked her younger sister's face, her eyes filled with heartache.

Xin Shisi Niang wiped away her tears and pointed at Zhou Ning, saying:

"Sister, it was Young Master Zhou who saved me, and he saved you too."

Xin Shiyi Niang turned around and bowed deeply to Zhou Ning:

"Young Master Zhou, we foxes will never forget your great kindness."

Zhou Ning helped her up: "Miss Xin, there's no need for such formalities. Your reunion as sisters is the best outcome."

He looked at Yan Chixia, whose master was standing at the entrance of the main hall, hands behind his back, expressionless.

"Master, your disciple has returned."

Yan Chixia nodded: "Come in. I have something to tell you."

Zhou Ning followed Yan Chixia into the main hall.

Yan Chixia sat down at the head of the table and gestured for Zhou Ning to sit as well.

"Did you find anything on your trip to Montenegro?" he asked.

Zhou Ning reported the situation of Black Mountain Fortress and the information provided by Xin Shiyi Niang in detail.

After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then said:

"The Black Mountain Demon's ambitions are even greater than I anticipated."

He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth:

"He captures foxes and refines them into elixirs to improve his cultivation. But his true target may not be the mortal realm, but rather... the Heavenly Court."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Master, does the Heavenly Court really exist?"

Yan Chixia glanced at him: "It exists. But no one has been able to go up there for a long time."

He paused, then continued, "Knowing too much about these things now is useless. The most urgent thing is to improve your cultivation."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

Yan Chixia took out a pill from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This is the 'Primordial Essence Pill,' which can help you strengthen your foundation and cultivate your vital energy. After taking it, go into seclusion for three days to break through to the peak of the Qi Refining stage."

Zhou Ning accepted the pill and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."

He left the main hall, returned to his residence, took the elixir, and began his seclusion.

Three days later, Zhou Ning emerged from the pass.

The internal energy within his body was more abundant and circulated more smoothly than before.

He has already touched the threshold of the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and is just one step away from breaking through.

"Not bad." Yan Chixia checked his cultivation level and nodded slightly.

"In another month or two, you should be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Zhou Ning was overjoyed: "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand: "Don't rush to thank me. The path of cultivation has only just begun."

He paused, then continued, "By the way, those fox-woman women said they want to see you."

Zhou Ning walked out of the main hall and came to the stone chamber in the back mountain.

Xin Shisi Niang, Xin Shiyi Niang, Xiao Yu, and several other fox clan women were waiting for him there.

"Young Master Zhou." Xin Shisi Niang stepped forward, carrying an exquisite wooden box in her hands:

"This is a small token of our fox clan's appreciation; please accept it."

Zhou Ning took the wooden box, opened it, and took a look.

Inside was a crystal-clear pill, emitting a faint fragrance.

On the surface of the elixir, one can vaguely see the pattern of a fox, lifelike in appearance.

"This is..." Zhou Ning asked.

Xin Shisi Niang said, "This is a secret elixir of our Qingqiu Fox Clan, called the 'Qingling Pill.' After taking it, it can enhance cultivation and purify impurities in the body."

Zhou Ning quickly declined, saying, "This is too valuable; I cannot accept it."

Xin Shisi Niang shook her head: "Young Master Zhou, you saved the lives of my sisters and so many of our clansmen. What is a single pill? If you don't accept it, we won't be at peace with ourselves."

The other fox-woman women also urged, "Young Master Zhou, please accept it."

Zhou Ning hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded:

"Alright. Then I'll accept your offer."

He carefully put the wooden box away and bowed deeply to Xin Shisi Niang:

"Thank you, young lady."

Xin Shisi Niang smiled and said, "Young Master Zhou, you're too kind."

She paused, then continued, "Young Master Zhou, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"I've heard that you'll be going to the North. If you have the chance, I'd like to ask you to help us investigate someone."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Wang the Taoist?"

Xin Shisi Niang nodded: "It's him. He killed our whole family and then joined forces with the Black Mountain. We want to find him and avenge our family."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I promise you. If I find him, I will definitely let you know."

Xin Shisi Niang was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Zhou Ning: "Thank you very much, Young Master Zhou!"

Zhou Ning helped her up: "No need to thank me. You can stay at Lanruo Temple with peace of mind. I will keep an eye on this matter for you when I go to the North."

Xin Shisi Niang nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude.

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning continued his cultivation.

He practiced swordsmanship at dawn, meditated at dawn, drew talismans at noon, practiced manipulating objects at pm, and studied classics at dusk.

Day after day, rain or shine.

He had never been willing to use that "Azure Spirit Pill".

Yan Chixia said that it would be most effective to take it after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

On this day, Zhou Ning was practicing his sword on the back mountain when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from down the mountain.

He sheathed his sword, turned around, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. He saw a group of people walking along the mountain path towards Lanruo Temple.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, riding a tall horse, followed by a dozen or so burly men who looked like servants.

It is Master Wang.

He's here again.

Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to meet him.

"Master Wang, what brings you here?"

Master Wang dismounted, his face grave.

"Brother Zhou, something terrible has happened."

"What is it?"

Master Wang took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This was sent by the Demon Suppression Division. They said that the demons on the northern border have gathered and are heading towards the Central Plains. All the major sects are gathering manpower to go to the north to provide support. This time, it's a general offensive."

Zhou Ning took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.

The contents of the letter were very simple.

A calamity has struck the north, endangering all living beings. All cultivators are urged to hurry to the north to join us in this national crisis.

The inscription was signed by the Demon Suppression Division Headquarters, and was stamped with a large, bright red seal.

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. I will go and report to Master right away."

He strode into the main hall and handed the letter to Yan Chixia.

After reading it, Yan Chixia remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he looked up at Zhou Ning: "Are you ready?"

Zhou Ning took a deep breath and solemnly said, "This disciple is ready."

Yan Chixia nodded: "Go. Remember, come back alive."

He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This jade talisman contains a full-force sword aura of mine. In a moment of crisis, it can save your life."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."

He returned to his lodgings and packed his bags.

The Qingfeng Sword, the Bixie Sword, talismans, cinnabar, yellow paper, pills, the "Qingling Pill," the "Local Landscape Records"... everything was packed away one by one.

With everything ready, he stepped out of the room.

Xin Shisi Niang, Xin Shiyi Niang, Xiao Yu, and the other fox clan women stood in the courtyard, silently watching him.

"Young Master Zhou, you must come back safely."

Xin Shisi Niang's eyes reddened.

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will."

He cupped his hands in greeting to them, turned around, and strode down the mountain.

Behind him, Yan Chixia stood at the entrance of the main hall, hands behind his back, watching him leave.

Zhou Ning did not turn around.

He knew that this trip would likely end in disaster.